GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the third time this season, Duke University junior Lindy Duncan claimed medalist honors in a tournament as the top-ranked golfer in the nation carded three under-par rounds to finish with a 54-hole total of 212 to win the 2012 Bryan National Collegiate at the 6,323-yard, Par 72 Players Course at the Bryan Park Golf and Enrichment Center in Greensboro, N.C.

“Today was a little bit of a struggle with my wedges and short irons -- not really sure what was going on -- I wasn’t hitting the ball very long today as I couldn’t get a good gauge on my distance control,” said Duncan. “My driver this week was probably my best as I hit a ton of fairways and I was hitting it really long so that gave me a really big advantage into the greens, which were pretty firm. I putted well all week -- I have been really working hard on my putting and working really hard overall.”

Duncan, who is out of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., totaled a two-stroke victory over UNC Greensboro’s Fanny Cnops (214), which marked her third win of the 2011-12 season and the fifth career win. Her five career wins now rank tied for sixth on Duke’s career victory list along with Virada Nirapathpongporn and Candy Hannemann.

“It feels really good going into a tournament knowing that I have been working really hard, having a good attitude and come out with a win is really exciting,” said Duncan.“

Duncan opened her day on the fourth hole and quickly went down to over-over-par with a bogey on her second hole. The two-time All-America responded well with a birdie on No. 7, but dropped another shot on No. 11 with a bogey. Duncan registered her fourth eagle of the season on the next hole, the 498-yard, par five 12th hole. She blistered her drive approximately 280 yards and then hit a perfect five-wood into the green before rolling in an 18-footer for eagle.

“That was huge because I was playing well before then but nothing really was happening and I kind of had a feeling was going to be the hole,” said Duncan. “Making that putt was really good momentum.”

She suffered another bogey two holes later but posted back-to-back birdies on No. 17 and No. 18 to move to two-under-par. Duncan rolled in a 15-footer on the 17th before sticking her 6-iron to within four feet and making the put for her third birdie of the day. She notched three pars on the final three holes to finish with a two-under-par, 70.

On the day, she hit 12 fairways, nine greens and had a season-low 26 putts.

“Lindy is making her share of mistakes out there because that is the nature of the game, but what I really like about her is the way she handles her mistakes,” said Brooks. “That is the greatest improvement I have seen Lindy make as a college player. It is just the patience it takes to handle your own mistakes and she has gotten really good at that. I had flashbacks to her freshman year on this same golf course where she didn’t handle her mistakes patiently.”

As a team, Duke made a great comeback as the Blue Devils entered the final round in sixth place and nine strokes out of the lead. The Blue Devils carded a team-best one-over-par, 289, on Sunday and finished in a tied for first place tie along with Tennessee with a 54-hole total of 882. In the playoff, Tennessee made four pars, while Duke registered three pars and a double-bogey to give the Lady Vols the team victory.

“They were really solid today,” said Brooks. “It is unfortunate our deficit was a little to high going in. We had a great day and I am very proud of Stacey Kim of her chip-in on her last hole today and then her beautiful putt she made in the playoff. We didn’t end up winning the playoff but she made a really, really good eight foot putt in the playoff. There was just a lot of really good golf today,”

Following Tennessee and Duke with three-day totals of 882, Florida State (889), Ohio State (892), North Carolina (892), South Carolina (894), Wake Forest (895), Northwestern (896), UNC Greensboro (900) and Tulane (902) rounded out the top 10 teams.

Junior Stacey Kim continued her solid golf on Sunday as she posted a final round one-over-par, 73, to finish tied for ninth with a 54-hole total of 221. Her top 10 finish was the first of the season and third of her career. In the final round, Kim opened with a bogey, birdie and then collected four straight pars. A product of Columbus, Ga., Kim had a bogey on No. 10 and then notched eight consecutive pars. She had a bogey on No. 1 but closed with a chip-in birdie on the 160-yard, par three No. 3 as she holed a 25-foot chip with a wedge to close with a 73. On the day, she hit seven fairways, eight greens and had 27 putts.

Totaling Duke’s second-best round of the day was sophomore Alejandra Cangrejo as she collected a one-under-par, 71, which marked her third round of even or under par this season. With her three-day total of 223, Cangrejo finished tied for 16th overall, her second top 20 placement of the season. She had an incredible start to the day as she was four-under-par through 12 holes before notching two straight bogeys, a birdie and a double-bogey over the next four holes to drop to one-under-par. Her birdie on No. 16 included a chip-in from 16 yards. Cangrejo, who is from Bogota, Colombia, parred the final two holes to finish with the 71. She hit 10 greens, five fairways and rolled in 27 putts on the day.

Sophomore Laetitia Beck was one-under-par through 11 holes but struggled on the way in as she suffered a bogey on her 13th hole and a double-bogey on her 17th hole on her way to finishing with a 75. Her 54-hole total of 229 was tied for 43rd. Beck hit 10 fairways, nine greens and had 31 putts on the day.

A native of Blacksburg, Va., Courtney Ellenbogen totaled a 77 on Sunday on her way to closing with a 229, which was tied for 43rd. She had one birdie on the day, which came on the 498-yard, par five 12th hole.

Playing as an individual, Irene Jung had a 78 on Sunday and was tied for 69th overall with a 234. She also had a birdie on the 12th hole as she hit 11 greens, six fairways and had 33 putts.

“It is huge,” said Duncan on the team finishing tied for first through 54 holes. “Obviously, we have shown that on any given day that when four or five of us are playing well we can play with anybody. We moved up I think five spots today. It just shows that if you keep working, keep grinding that anything can happen.”

Duke will next compete in the ACC Championship on April 13-15 at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.

“If this doesn’t make them hungry to win the ACC Championship, I don’t know what will,” said Brooks. “They seem hungry and ready to go after it.”
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